Škoda Auto breaks sales records in 2017, strong performance seen
continuing this year

The Czech Republic’s biggest manufacturing company, Škoda Auto, set new
sales records in 2017 with demand strong across the world. Established
models as well as some of the latest roll outs contributed to the soaring
deliveries of the Czech cars.

Škoda Karoq, photo: Škoda Auto
2017 began as it ended for the Czech Republic’s biggest car maker, Škoda
Auto, with record sales in January and record sales again in the month of
December. And the strong performance of the other 10 months added up to
total sales of almost 1.21 million Škoda Auto cars globally, up 6.6 percent on the
previous year.

The mid-range Octavia was still the best selling model with almost 419,000
cars sold but it’s probably now showing its age. Sales of the top of the
range Superb were up almost nine percent at just under 151,000 cars.

And Škoda says its latest models are also selling well. The Kodiaq SUV
already notched up sales of 100,000 in 2017. And the fellow SUV launched
late last year, the Karoq, has sold 6,300.

Geographically, the Mladá Boleslav based carmaker saw strong sales across
the world. China still comes in as the number one market with around
325,000 cars sold last year, up 2.5 percent. December’s figures were just
over 42,000 cars sold, a rise of almost 42 percent on the previous year.

Erich Handl, photo: Czech Television
Germany remains the second biggest market with the 2017 rise in sales
almost twice as high at 4.9 percent and around 173,000 cars sold. And sales
in Central Europe were up almost 18 percent.

But will those main markets hold up in 2018 and can Škoda Auto keeping
meeting demand when it is already operating at near capacity. That’s a
question that was put to Erich Handl, the editor of the Czech auto industry
news site, automakers.

ʺThe increase in Škoda sales fundamentally depends on the growth taking
place on the Chinese auto market. China is the world’s biggest single
auto market for our domestic car producer. If Škoda Auto sees stronger
demand on the Chinese market then it should see growth as a whole.ʺ

Handl sees the Chinese car market growing in 2018 at around the same pace as
last year and that should translate into similar rising figures for the
main Czech manufacturer.
And with its ongoing investment, the auto expert has no concerns that
Škoda Auto should be able to keep on boosting production and keeping pace
with the rising demand.

Photo: Škoda AutoʺŠkoda Auto is massively investing in its production capacity and this
year is no exception to that. So, overall we can expect another increase in
the sales of its models.ʺ

There is one feature that Handl also remarks upon and that is the fact that
Škoda, or perhaps parent company Volkswagen, is steering the Czech
manufacturer more and more into the Sports Utility Vehicle with both of its
latest launches coming in that segment of fairly high priced cars. Although
the initial figures appear positive, the final conclusions of that bet
still have to be made.